Split grades....how to decide?

[momtoS]

Next year my dd will be going into grade one. She is very bright in SK and reading at a grade one level. But she has sensory processing disorder and likes to move around alot. I found out next year there will be a

SK/grade one split

and

grade one/grade two split

I like the idea of Sk/1 because there is more opportunity to move around instead of sitting.....but then would have to go into sitting in grade two....

but 1/2 split she will have the benefit of learning some 2 stuff early. And will prepare her for grade 2 (the grade two teacher....is very strange)

Can some helpful MDC moms help me decide what is best for her?

[Linda on the move]

I'd go for the moving around option where she'll be happier.

Reading at home, playing board games as a family, cooking together, etc. will also provide opportunities to learn higher skills.

[ollyoxenfree]

I would focus on the teacher, actually. If one teacher is more understanding and will connect better with your child, then s/he'll probably try to accommodate your child's needs. Do you have any insight into which one would be a better fit for your child?

Do you think academic boredom plays into her sensory issues? If so, then if you choose the SK/grade 1 class, you can speak to the teacher about giving her more advanced work or perhaps she can go move to the grade 1/2 class or the grade 2 class to work with them for part of the day. There are always options - it just requires some cooperation and a little effort.

Good luck.

[eepster]

You need to look at many more aspects. So far you've got one point the 1/2 split since she is academically ahead in reading, and you've got one point for the k/1 split since she is wiggly.

Are most of her friends older than her, or are most of them younger? If her friends are mostly older then one point for 1/2, but if her friends are younger then it's a point for k/1.

Is she a follower or a leader? If she tends to emulate the behavior of those around her the it's a point for 1/2, she can emulate more mature behavior. If she is a leader she might enjoy helping the younger students in the k/1 split.

Is the wiggliness worse if she is bored or is it a need to release energy? If it is more related to too little activity then a point for the k/1 split. If it is related to boredom then point for the 1/2.

Which teacher seems more like she/he will click with your DD? give that class a point.

How is she in other academic areas (I'm talking about in comparison to classmates not state standards which sometimes don't represent the school district norm?) For each she is advanced in give a point to the 1/2 split, for those she's on par with classmates assign no points, for any shes behind in give points to k/1.

How is she in physical eduction? If she's super athletic give a point to 1/2 split. If she is very clumsy give a point to k/1. If shes pretty normal don't worry about this.

Are there any difference between the classes that makes one more appealing or less appealing? More time at extracurriculars? Odd lunch times? Only scheduled bathroom breaks? Longer recesses? More snack times? Mandatory nap times? Etc? Assign points as fits.

Add up your points. Then think about whether the answer you got feels right or wrong.

[meemee]

find out exactly what happens at 1/2. what curriculum will she be expected to do. and then what? is there going to be a further split class.

dd is in a 2/3 split class. she does 2nd grade math but 3rd grade reading. she is part of the second grade. next year would be horrendous for her if she went to 3rd grade instead of a 3rd/4th grade split. she has already done quite a bit of 3rd grade math and she would be bored repeating 3rd grade english.

being ahead for fast learners is not actually a good thing. it means generating boredom which means more wiggly movement.

[Linda on the move]

There is a really big difference between a child being "wiggly" and a child having a sensory processing disorder.

[ChristaN]

Is she sensory overresponsive or underresponsive (i.e. -- does she seek sensory input or avoid it)? My oldest was also dx with SPD at 7. She avoids noise and some light. She is not at all wiggly, though.

I'd agree with the pps who said to interview the teachers. The teacher has always made the biggest difference for my dd. My gut instinct was to say to go with the 1/2 split b/c I know that the 1st grade year was a terrible year for my dd due to the work being too easy and the teacher being big on repetition to learn how to read, for instance. She would have done a lot better in an environment that was a better fit for her academic abilities. Being forced to sit through repeated readings of books, flash cards for sight words, etc. just exacerbated her other issues.

However, which option you go with should probably depend on teacher flexibility moreso than the grade of the other kids in the classroom.

[eepster]

Originally Posted by Linda on the move

There is a really big difference between a child being "wiggly" and a child having a sensory processing disorder.

I tend to view wiggly as one of many possible symptoms of SPD. It is the symptom that is helped the most by lots of time on the playground and generally engaging in more physical play. If this is the case for the OP'a DD then the class which offers more physical release during the day is likely to be a good fit. One would tend to expect the K/1 class to offer more running around/physical experience learning time, since most kindergarteners need more of that.

However, some kids get wiggly when they are bored. This is a separate issue from SPD. If the OP's DD really needs the opportunity to work well above grade level in order to stay engaged and focused, then the 1/2 split might be a better fit if the teacher was willing to let the OP's DD work into the 2nd grade curriculum.